Adjustable fixture for positioning and supporting a work piece in an impact delivering machine



Jan. 29, 1957 c. D. SPAINHOUR ADJUSTABLE FIXTURE FOR POSITIONING AND SUPPORTING A WORK PIECE IN AN IMPACT DELIVERING MACHINE Flled Aug 4 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR @7702] aga /212m],-

BY I

ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1957 c, SPAINHOUR 2,779,275

ADJUSTABLE FIXTURE FOR POSITIONING AND SUPPORTING A WORK PIECE IN AN IMPACT DELIVERING MACHINE I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1953 I Z5 j 0%;;

BY 1/ Q. I ATTOR EY United Sttes ADJUSTABLE FIXTURE FOR POSITIONING AND SUPPORTING A WORK PIECE IN AN IMPACT DELIVERING MACHINE Application August 4, 1953, Serial No. 372,248

Claims. (Cl. 101--407) This invention pertains to work holders and more particularly to a portable, adjustable fixture for holding flat or hubbed gears during a stamping or other indicia impressing operation.

It is frequently desirable in the manufacture of gears or other disk-like work pieces to imprint thereon indicia such as gear size or other identifying numerals or marks at a predetermined position upon the fiat surface of the work piece. It may be desired to carry out such operations upon either flat or hubbed work pieces.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a fixture for supporting a disk-like work piece in a fixed, predetermined position during a work operation such as stamping.

It is another object of this invention to provide a fixture adaptable to receive either flat or hubbed gears and to rigidly hold the same during a work operation such as stamping or the like.

It is a still further object to provide a fixture which is adjustable to be utilize-d with work pieces of various s1zes.

In accordance with the above objects, one embodiment of the invention comprises a portable base provided with an elongated well or first groove formed in the base and communicating with the upper surface thereof, said well being adapted to receive a depending hub of a disk-like work piece which is centrally positioned and supported above the well by a plurality of slidably adjustable, radially extending slides or arms. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, one of the arms is resiliently biased and forcefully cooperates with two other peripherally opposed arms in order to firmly grip a work piece. An L-shaped anvil is slidably mounted in the well and is adapted to support the under side of the positioned work piece. Graduated scales are mounted upon the base whereby the radial dimension of the work piece is determined and the anvil is located at a position directly below the area to be Worked upon, thereby providing support for the work piece during the work operation.

Other novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the gear stamping fixture and shows (in dotted lines) a disk-like work piece, such as a gear, in a position to be worked upon;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the fixture;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the fixture taken on line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fixture taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, a base, indicated generally by the numeral 12, is provided with slots 13 by means of which the base, in conjunction with suitable clamping means such as bolts 14, may be mounted on a suitable supportsuch as the work table of a stamping machine as at 15' (Fig, 4). The

" atent D ice base is provided with a first groove or elongated well 17 formed in the upper surface of the base and extending outwardly froma position within the body of the base to one edge thereof. A reference point 18 located on the base at a position near one end of the elongated well and is defined by a vertical projection of the intersection of the extensions of the centerlines through the work-positioning arms as illustrated in Fig. 2. The base is also provided with second and third grooves or slideways 19 of less depth and width than the first groove or well, the slideways interconnecting at one end with the well 17 and extending radially outward therefrom to the periphery of the base.

In each of the slideways 19 is mounted a slide member or arm 20, which is provided with a projection 21 whereby the slides are enabled to contact the edge of a disk-"like work piece such as a gear 22 which has been positioned with its axis of rotation coincident with the vertical reference axis 18. The extremity of each slide 20 adjacent the work piece is cut back as at 23 to provide an area of support for the work piece. In the embodiment illustrated, adjustment of the slides 20 is achieved by providing each slide with a slot 24 wherein is received a clamping means such as a bolt 25 threadedly engageable in an aperture 26 (Fig. 3) in the base 12.

Extending outwardly from the radial center in a direction greater than 90 degrees from each of the slides 20 and cooperating therewith to hold the work piece in position in the fixture is a third slide or arm 27 which is provided with a work piece gripping projection 28 (Fig. 3) and which is mounted on a plunger 29 by suitable means such as a pin 30.

Plunger 29 extends through and is slidable in an aperture 32 in a guide block 33, said block being adjustably mounted in the well 17 as by bolts 34, which are threadedly engageable in apertures (not shown) in the base 12. The guide block 33 is provided with slots 31 which cooperate with the bolts 34 thereby providing a slidable adjustment of the guide block. The plunger :29 is provided at the free extremity thereof with a knurled knob 37 for manual operation of the plunger. The third slide 27 is resiliently biased as by a helical spring 38, said spring being mounted about the plunger 29 and bearing at one extremity on the block 33 and at the other extremity on the slide 27, thereby exerting a force which tends to maintain slide 27 in a normally extended position in forcible con tact with the periphery of a positioned work piece.

An L-shaped anvil denoted generally by the numeral 39 is slidably mounted in the well 17 and consists of a horizontal portion 40 and an upright portion 42. Portion 42 is adapted to engage the underside of the work piece 22 below the area of indicia impression in order to provide support for the work piece and to absorb the excess impact force. The portion 42 is provided with an index line 51 scribed in the upper surface thereof, said index line serving to aid in positioning the anvil 39 with respect to the work piece. The horizontal portion 40 of the anvil is provided with slots 43 whereby the anvil is clamped to the base 12 by any suitable means such as bolts 44 and by means of which the anvil may be adjusted to a desired position.

Slide member 27 is in slidable contact with the upper surface of the horizontal portion 40 of the anvil 39.

Graduated scales 45 and 47 are mounted on the base adjacent and parallel to the well 17 and the slideways 19 respectively. Scales 47 are used to determine the positions of the slides 20 and are calibrated to read directly the radial dimension of a positioned work piece at points on the scales opposite index marks 49 on the slides 20, the distance along the scales 47 being measured from the vertical reference axis 18. Scale 45 is used" to determine the correct position of the anvil 39 in accordance with the location on the work piece where the indicia is to be stamped. V i

In operation, the spring-biased slide 27 is retracted by manual operation of the knob 37 and a work piece of unknown radial dimension is placed with its center point in approximate vertical alignment with the reference point 18 and the periphery of the work piece is contacted by the projections 21 of the slides MP. A hub 48 of the work piece 22 (Fig. 3) depends into the well 17. The guide block 33 is then adjusted to a position at which the spring 38, when in a normally extended position with the slide 27 incontact with the periphery of the work piece 22, will exert upon the slide sufficient force to hold the work piece firmly in place. The knob 37 is then released, allowing the projection 28 of the slide 27 to contact the work piece under urging of the spring 33, thereby securing the work piece in position. The radial dimension of the positioned work piece is then read directly on the scales 47 at points opposite the index marks 49 on the slides 20. If it is desired to place numbers or other marks at a predetermined location on the work piece, the anvil 39 is then positioned directly underneath this location aligning the index line 51 on the upright portion 42 of the anvil with the proper point on the linearly graduated scale 45. The portable fixture with the Work piece in position is then placed on a work machine such as a stamping press with the portion 42 of the anvil 39 aligned with the printing member of the work machine such as a stamp 50 (Fig. 4), and the imprinting operation is then carried out.

If the radial dimension of the work piece to be stamped is known, the slides 24) are first properly positioned by aligning the index marks 49 thereon with the numbers on the scales 47 corresponding to the known radial dimension of the work piece. Slides 2% are then fixed in this position by tightening the bolts 25. Guide block 33 is then correctly positioned as in the case of the work piece of unknown dimensions and the slide 27 is engaged with the work piece as in the preceding instance. As before, the index line 51 on the anvil 39 is aligned with the proper graduation on scale 45 in accordance with the desired location of indicia impression.

From the foregoing disclosure of methods of operation of the fixture, it is apparent that the fixture may readily accommodate difi'erent sized work pieces of either known or unknown radial dimensions.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is to be-understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A fixture for positioning and supporting hubbed gears to be stamped with indicia comprising a portable base having an elongated well formed in the upper surface -thereof, said base also being provided with a plurality of radially extending slideways, said slideways formed in the upper surface of the base and interconnecting with the elongated well, a slide member mounted in each of the slideways, said slide members being adapted to engage and support a positioned gear near the periphery thereof, means to clamp the slide members in a fixed position, ananvil adjustably mounted in said Well and adapted to support a positioned gear beneath. the area to be stamped, a guide block mounted in the elongated well, said guide: block. having therein a passage extending parallel to the: longitudinal axis of the well, a plunger slidably mountedin the passage in the guide block, a knob on one extremity of the plunger, a gear engaging arm mounted on the other extremity of the plunger, said arm being slidably engageable with and partially supported by; said anvil and adapted to engage the periphery of the gear, resilient means mounted about the plunger to hold the gear engaging arm in contact with. the periphery oflthe gear, and means to clamp the fixture irr a WQIkI position.

2. A portable fixture for positioning and supporting circular gears to be stamped comprising a base having an upper surface formed with first, second, and third radially extending grooves therein, the center line of said three radially extending grooves if extended converging in a radial center, said second and third grooves extending outwardly from the radial center in directions greater than degrees from the direction of the first groove, a first gear engaging slide adjustably mounted in the first groove, a second gear engaging slide adjustably mounted in the second groove, a third gear engaging slide adjustably mounted in the third groove, said slides being provided with gear engaging projections on the adjacent ends thereof, means to clamp the second and third slides in fixed positions, an L-shaped anvil consisting of a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, said anvil being adjustably mounted in the first groove below the first slide, the upper surface of said horizontal portion of the anvil being in slidable contact With the lower surface of the first slide, said vertical portion of the anvil being adapted to slidably engage the under surface of the gear and to support said gear directly beneath the area of the stamping operation, means to clamp the anvil in a fixed position, a guide block adjustably mounted in the first groove, said block being provided with a passage extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first groove, means to clamp the guide block in a fixed position, a plunger slidably mounted in the passage in the guide block, said plunger having at one extremity thereof a knob and being connected at the other extremity to the first gear engaging slide, a helical compression spring mounted about the plunger and bearing on the first slide and on the guide block whereby said first slide is held in forcible engagement with the periphery of the gear to be stamped, a first scale mounted on the base adjacent and parallel to the first groove for indicating the position of the anvil, a second scale mounted on the base adjacent and parallel to the second groove to indicate the position of the second slide, a third scale mounted on the base adjacent and parallel to the third groove to indicate the position of the third slide, and means to clamp the fixture in a desired work position.

3. A fixture for supporting a disc-like work piece in an impact delivering machine, comprising a base, a plurality of radially adjustable work piece engaging arms mounted on the base for movement into engagement with the periphery of the work piece, and an anvil mounted on the base for radial adjustment independently of the work piece engaging arms into a position for supporting the Work piece below an impact receiving area located between the center and the periphery of the work piece.

4. A fixture for supporting a disc-like work piece in an impact delivering machine, comprising a base, a plurality of radially adjustable work piece engaging arms mounted on the base for movement into engagement with the periphery of the work piece, an anvil mounted on the base radially adjustable independently of the work piece engaging arms into a position for supporting the work piece below an impact receiving area located between the center and the periphery of the work piece, and a plurality of graduated scales on the base for indicating the radial dimension of the work piece, whereby the work piece may be accurately positioned at a predetermined location thereon.

5. A fixture for supporting a disc-like work piece in an impact delivering machine, comprising a base having a plurality of radially extending groove formed in the upper surface thereof, a plurality of radially adjustable work piece engaging arm-s slidably mounted in the grooves for movement into engagement with the periphery of the Work piece, means for maintaining the work piece engaging arms in a fixed position, an anvil mounted on the base for radial adjustment independently of the work piece engaging arms into a position for supporting the work piece below an impact receiving area located between the center and periphery of the work piece, and a plurality of graduated scales on the base adjacent the grooves for indicating the position of the work piece engaging arms whereby the work piece may be accurately positioned in a predetermined location.

6. A fixture for supporting a disc-like work piece in an impact delivering machine, comprising a base having an elongated well formed in the upper surface thereof, radially adjustable means to engage the periphery of the work piece and to position a work piece above the well, an anvil mounted on the base for radial adjustment independently of the adjustable engaging means into a position for supporting the workpiece below an impact receiving area located between the center and periphery of the work piece, and means to locate the anvil at a predetermined position relative to the work piece.

7. A fixture for supporting a hubbed disc-like work piece in an impact delivering machine, comprising a base having a well for receiving a hub of the work piece, radially adjustable work piece engaging arms mounted on the base for movement into engagement with the periphery of the work piece, an anvil mounted on the base for radial adjustment independently of the work piece engaging arms into a position for supporting the work piece below an impact receiving area located between the center and periphery of the work piece, means to indicate the radial dimension of the work piece, and means to locate the anvil at a predetermined position with respect to the work piece.

8. A fixture for supporting a disc-like work piece in i an impact delivering machine, comprising a base having a pluraltiy of radial grooves on the upper surface thereon, a plurality of radially adjustable work piece engaging arms slidably mounted in the radial grooves for movement into engagement with the periphery of the work piece, an anvil mounted on the base for radial adjustment independently of the work piece engaging arms into a position for supporting the work piece below an impact receiving area located between the center and periphery of the work piece, a plurality of calibrated scales on the base and adapted to indicate in conjunction with the work piece positioning means the radial dimension of the work piece, and a graduated scale on the base to indicate the position of the anvil.

9. A fixture for supporting a disc-like work piece in an impact delivering machine, comprising a base having a plurality of radially extending slideways and a well interconnected with said slideways formed in the upper surface thereof, a plurality of radially adjustable work piece engaging arms mounted in the slideways, a resiliently biased work piece engaging arm adjustably mounted in the Well, an anvil mounted in the well for radial adjustment independently of said work piece engaging arms and said work piece engaging arm into a position for supporting the work piece below an impact receiving area located between the center and periphery of the work piece, graduated scales on the base to indicate the position of the arms with respect to the base, and a graduated scale on the base to indicate the position of the anvil on the base.

10. A fixture for supporting a disc-like work piece in an impact delivering machine, comprising a base having a plurality of radially extending grooves on the upper surface thereof, a plurality of radially adjustable work piece engaging arms mounted in the grooves, resilient means cooperating with at least one of the work piece engaging arms to hold at least one of said arms in forcible engagement with the work piece, adjsutable clamping means to secure the remaining work piece engaging arms in fixed positions in accordance with the radial dimensions of the work piece, graduated scales mounted on the base adjacent the clamping means to calculate radial dimensions of the work piece, an anvil mounted in one of the grooves for radial adjustment independently of the Work piece engaging arms into a. position for supporting the work piece below an impact receiving area located between the center and periphery of the work piece, a graduated scale on the base to indicate the location of the anvil, and means to clamp the anvil in a fixed position below the impact receiving area.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,399,194 Cole Dec. 6, 1921 2,140,303 Swanson Dec. 13, 1938 2,317,649 Sorrentino Apr. 27, 1943 2,543,117 Mackmann Feb. 27, 1951 2,612,106 Ryckman Sept. 30, 1952 

